In today’s InternetRetailing newsletter we report as Ocado reports full-year sales growth – but widening losses following a fire last year in its Andover warehouse. New Look, on the other hand, says that while its losses have narrowed following action to close stores and limit discounting, its sales have fallen in the first nine months of its year.
Today we also report as figures suggest something of a retail recovery in January. Springboard figures show the ongoing decline in footfall slowing as visitors return to shopping centres and retail parks, but move away from the high street. And Barclaycard figures show consumers becoming more confident during the month, spending more on experiences and essential items – although less on clothing and electronics. The figures seem to offer hope at a time when, retailers’ figures suggest today, challenges still continue. In the coming months and years what will be important is how retailers address challenges such as these as they continue to develop their strategies to give customers the service they demand at a time when they want to shop differently. But BRC figures show retail sales remaining pretty flat, while it found online sales growing by just 2.5% during the month. That said, shoppers continue to move their business further online, with 30% of retail transactions taking place online in January, according to the BRC.
In today’s guest comment, Animesh Ghosh of Kornchain, considers how retailers might approach creating customer loyalty programmes that are genuinely rewarding.
From our European coverage, we report as Lidl launches its loyalty app in Belgium.
Image courtesy of Ocado
